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Cefalexin at nearly 5 weeks pregnant. Anyone taken it for a UTI so early on?

Hi. I'm 4 weeks and 5 days pregnant today. My urine sample has come back clear but I have the symptoms of a UTI. because I get such frequent UTis the doctor feels that I will know the signs and says he will send the sample off for culture but wants me to start treating with Cefalexin from today. I'm so nervous about taking things as I don't want this pregnancy to go wrong but at the same time I was sure my water infection that wasn't treated properly and lasted 4 weeks could have been a contributing factor to my last pregnancy ending in an early loss. I've done the usual googling on the internet as you do, and lots say it was safe for them but lots if the ladies taken it were further along. It's so early at this stage that I would just feel reassured to hear from any ladies who took it very early on in pregnancy and went on to have healthy pregnancies. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks x

First of all, heartfelt congratulations! I wish you a very healthy pregnancy.

I have no direct knowledge of the medication you are talking about, but I would think that at this stage of the pregnancy, when the embryo is feeding on the yolk sac (I think), the risk is probbaly at its lowest. I would be more relaxed about now than say 3-4 weeks later. So, starting now, would give you a good chance of proetcting your LO and getting rid of the infection without taking teh medication for too long.

Hi, aly
Congrats on your pregnancy.
I, too, have no knowledge related to the medication. My fear however is not related to the medication but to the consequences of not treating any UTI's

It is a well known/established fact that a UTI or any pelvic/pelvic organ infection, left untreated, could cause iritability of the uterus and result in pregnancy loss or preterm labour. As a result, not taking treatment for a UTI could also endanger your pregnancy. In the end you and your doctor need to weigh up the risks of the medication causing problems vs the infection causing problems. Which is more likely to result in complications? Are you willing to accept the risk of taking the medication and potentially causing damage or not taking the medication and potentially endangering the pregnancy?
It's kind of a "damned if you do and damned if you don't" as either way, if there are any problems, we tend to blame ourselves for the result.
Unfortunately, according to my reading, safety in pregnancy is not clearly established but equally it cannot be proven that it is not safe.

The only other option is to speak to your doctor about your concerns and ask whether there are any alternatives that are proven safe in pregnancy...

I was extremely prone to UTI's before I had my daughter. Like to the point I had 15 infections in one year. I was immune to many antibiotics and the one I could take was the strongest.
I was so worried about this, but my doctor reassured me and said that the cure is far more safe for a baby than the infection.

Ironically, I was taking antibiotics for a water infection while I was on my 2ww. I thought I had OHSS as I had awful abdominal pain. Turned out to be my bladder.

Anyway, long story short... I had to take antibiotics all through my 2ww and after I got my BFP. And my little miss is now 14 months old and doing fine

Just seen this thread, a few months after the question, but thought I'd give my experience anyway.

I have been on antibiotics for a chronic UTI every day for 2.5 years and during that time I have been taking 2g cefalexin every day for the last 2years, including during 3 IVF cycles. I am 6 weeks pregnant & the UTI specialist has told me he will keep me on the medication throughout pregnancy to avoid the risk of a urine infection flare up endangering the pregnancy. The IVF consultant agrees this makes sense, as the risks of a UTI to pregnancy are higher than the risks of the medication.